The scrapping of the regional strategies means that it is now up to each local planning authority to establish a robust evidence base for housing requirements for their area.
HBF is, therefore, starting to engage at a local level with local authorities with a new, locally based, team of professional planners to try and ensure that this self assessment is based on justified evidence such that plans are deliverable and viable. Similarly we are coordinating and encouraging HBF member participation in the production and examination of housing assessments to ensure that local authorities identify and maintain a deliverable and developable 5 year housing land supply.
Localism is all about early engagement with local communities, whether directly or through their elected representatives and professional officers. HBF is endeavouring to facilitate this engagement in an effective and productive manner in order that local authorities deliver sites for housing that are viable and developable.